Toronto Star – A 100-mile market for all seasons

Roberta AverySpecial to the StarMEAFORD–The rich dark earth clings to the misshapen carrots and the irregular-sized tomatoes carry battle scars, but this is fresh food and David Harper, the farmer who harvested them just hours ago, is now selling them to an appreciative crowd.

“I think this is a fabulous idea,” says Andrew Leach as he fills his shopping bag Thursday at the newly opened 100-Mile Market in the Georgian Bay community of Meaford. Leach says the community is buzzing about the concept.

“I don’t think they’ll need to do any advertising,” says Leach, brother of Robin Leach of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous fame.

Harper and his partner, Barbara Kay, aim to offer one-stop shopping for followers of the 100-Mile Diet – the plan by Vancouver authors Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon that encourages consumers to shop for food grown closer to home.

Harper believes their 100-Mile Market is a first for Ontario, but hopes similar outlets will spring up in small towns across the province.